My FFU doesn't have proper slots of a place for a pre-filter, so I found a linen bag (like for bras and intimates) that is just a bit bigger than the intake. Been working pretty good. It doesn't stress the fan too much and cost like $2, so I'll probably just chuck it...or wash it. LOL Thanks for the video. Always some good stuff.
The original blue pre-filter for the flow 48 a washable. I just take em of and use a pressurized stream of water and spry them off from the hepa facing side. Let them dry hit em with iso and reinstall. You can do this multiple times and I've had the same pre filters for 2 years. I'm going to replace them this next time because the weave will get weak eventually, but the blue hvac filter is the way to go in my opinion.
Great video! Question, I have a very dry climate where i live so there is a lot of dust in the air, I one is not running the hepa 24/7 would it be a good idea to when not in use put a plastic cover/curtain in front of it so that dust doesn't settle on the mesh in front? for use i would just roll it up.
Thank you for always sharing your information with us. Im a very talented but struggling mycologist and your techniques have guided my to personal success. Subjective success but thank you for being someone to look up too in the field.
Since we want the particulates removed from the filter, isn’t it counterproductive to use the blower to blow them to the „wrong“ direction? In to the filter?
no, once the filter is turned on an left on it will push anything in the normal direction - the point of this blowing is to remove the larger particles that built up along the edges and got stuck in the screen.
I built mine out of a 10"x10" filter from meyers mushrooms, and my prefilter is actually a can carbon filter which doubles as a stand for the fan. All I have to do is order a new cloth prefilter for the carbon filter and I'm good to go. I can easily see how dirty it is at all times so I dont even have to check it. The only problem is the 10"x10" filter needs a tiny bit more back pressure to produce laminar flow so I still need a few generic air purifier prefilter sheets inside the cabinet too.
Any advice on what to look out for while buying a hepa filter for diy flow hood. As always it's very informative watching you video. Thanks for everything 👍👍👍
I think I would first start with the size - I prefer lots of headspace for inoculations, that might increase price a lot but it worth it. Then I would get at least a mid-grade quality filter - the plastic ones are good enough but the metal ones will last longer (they can get damaged easily though like the fins on an A/C unit). I never built my own but I have seen many people make the mistake of putting too much time and energy into a 12” x 12” flow hood and then in 6 months buying a 2’x4’ - hope this helps! 🍄❤️
@FreshfromtheFarmFungi i agree..start w at least a 2x2..I built my.first 1 like that and now have that and a 2x4..both homemade..my bigger ones Fan went out a week ago so I sacrificed my smaller ones fan..I cleaned really good while apart and then made plates and let sit for few days under the hood to test the efficacy of it.
Hey Gary, firstly just want to thank you for always sharing your knowledge with the community. I recently purchased a second-hand Myers Mushrooms flow hood that is the same older version like the one you have. The Hepa filter that came with it is in somewhat bad shape...where do you usually get your replacement Hepa Filters for your unit? Also, do you run it on the first fan speed for laminar flow? Thank you for your time!
Hey thanks for watching and reaching out - I haven’t replaced these yet but I imagine he could source replacements otherwise talk to “nothing but air” they are a great resource for this kind of stuff. I run my fan on speed 2 but did make some modifications to the prefilter area I caulk and sealed it better so when the filter goes in there isn’t any slack/leakage so it works best on speed two. Ive been running this thing for 4 years now without any issues after that 👍
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi I tried reaching out to him but no replacements unfortunately. I'll check out Nothing But Air and look into caulking and sealing for a tighter pre-filter fit as well. Thank you again!
Love the videos brotha I have the same double stack flow hood but it doesn't blow that hard i wondering if the filter is clogged or something the fan looks like a turbine if you have any info that would be awesome thank you
it should be ok. Alcohol is a disinfectant so it should not promote microbial activity and evaporates quickly. I mostly was talking about accidental spills in the video - this can cause issues if it’s not addressed immediately- it can clog the filter, which in turn can promote microbes to survive the desiccation and worst case start entering the clean system.
An air compressor produces a ton of water. Air brushes have a water trap built into the air line because water causes obvious problems when mixed with paint. A regular air compressor doesn't have said water trap.
yes this one has a bleed out valve so when you’re finished, you can let all the air out and towards the end sometimes there is a few droplets- nothing that would cause any damage
Thanks Gary. I sometimes worried about leaving it on for only 24 hours when I wanted to maintain surface sterility on sub bags, plates, jars, etc in the interim til I can find time to innoculate. Thought I'd be using up the expensive $900 filter too fast. But at 5 years of continuous use, and me not running continuously but only for 24 hours or 36 hours at a time, then I could get 10 or more years out of it, which is cost manageable for sure.
You are why I invested in my flow 48 Gary, thank you for all the education over the years.
thanks for watching and following along! 🍄❤️
It's amazing to have you back on the channel! Thank you for all your material, which is always very helpful 🙏 many blessings
thanks for watching and following along!
My FFU doesn't have proper slots of a place for a pre-filter, so I found a linen bag (like for bras and intimates) that is just a bit bigger than the intake. Been working pretty good. It doesn't stress the fan too much and cost like $2, so I'll probably just chuck it...or wash it. LOL
Thanks for the video. Always some good stuff.
Great to see you! I have your yellow oyster and chestnut mushrooms fruiting in my grow tent right this very moment.
long time gary :) seems the kid and work keeps you busy :P Nice seeing you !
The original blue pre-filter for the flow 48 a washable. I just take em of and use a pressurized stream of water and spry them off from the hepa facing side. Let them dry hit em with iso and reinstall. You can do this multiple times and I've had the same pre filters for 2 years. I'm going to replace them this next time because the weave will get weak eventually, but the blue hvac filter is the way to go in my opinion.
I ended up scrapping mine and I like the convenience of these ones I suppose I can wash them but this method works well too - thanks for the tip!
Great video! Question, I have a very dry climate where i live so there is a lot of dust in the air, I one is not running the hepa 24/7 would it be a good idea to when not in use put a plastic cover/curtain in front of it so that dust doesn't settle on the mesh in front? for use i would just roll it up.
yes that is a good practice to have - it is annoying for me because I use mine every day but makes sense if you only use it once in a while
Thank you for always sharing your information with us. Im a very talented but struggling mycologist and your techniques have guided my to personal success. Subjective success but thank you for being someone to look up too in the field.
thanks for watching and following along!
Since we want the particulates removed from the filter, isn’t it counterproductive to use the blower to blow them to the „wrong“ direction? In to the filter?
no, once the filter is turned on an left on it will push anything in the normal direction - the point of this blowing is to remove the larger particles that built up along the edges and got stuck in the screen.
Great to see you again genius !!!!! Send you a big huge
Woild you have a lab specific air compressor for cleaning your ffu?
I built mine out of a 10"x10" filter from meyers mushrooms, and my prefilter is actually a can carbon filter which doubles as a stand for the fan. All I have to do is order a new cloth prefilter for the carbon filter and I'm good to go. I can easily see how dirty it is at all times so I dont even have to check it. The only problem is the 10"x10" filter needs a tiny bit more back pressure to produce laminar flow so I still need a few generic air purifier prefilter sheets inside the cabinet too.
nice!
Any advice on what to look out for while buying a hepa filter for diy flow hood.
As always it's very informative watching you video. Thanks for everything 👍👍👍
I think I would first start with the size - I prefer lots of headspace for inoculations, that might increase price a lot but it worth it. Then I would get at least a mid-grade quality filter - the plastic ones are good enough but the metal ones will last longer (they can get damaged easily though like the fins on an A/C unit). I never built my own but I have seen many people make the mistake of putting too much time and energy into a 12” x 12” flow hood and then in 6 months buying a 2’x4’ - hope this helps! 🍄❤️
@FreshfromtheFarmFungi i agree..start w at least a 2x2..I built my.first 1 like that and now have that and a 2x4..both homemade..my bigger ones Fan went out a week ago so I sacrificed my smaller ones fan..I cleaned really good while apart and then made plates and let sit for few days under the hood to test the efficacy of it.
Hey Gary, firstly just want to thank you for always sharing your knowledge with the community. I recently purchased a second-hand Myers Mushrooms flow hood that is the same older version like the one you have. The Hepa filter that came with it is in somewhat bad shape...where do you usually get your replacement Hepa Filters for your unit? Also, do you run it on the first fan speed for laminar flow? Thank you for your time!
Hey thanks for watching and reaching out - I haven’t replaced these yet but I imagine he could source replacements otherwise talk to “nothing but air” they are a great resource for this kind of stuff. I run my fan on speed 2 but did make some modifications to the prefilter area I caulk and sealed it better so when the filter goes in there isn’t any slack/leakage so it works best on speed two. Ive been running this thing for 4 years now without any issues after that 👍
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi I tried reaching out to him but no replacements unfortunately. I'll check out Nothing But Air and look into caulking and sealing for a tighter pre-filter fit as well. Thank you again!
Love the videos brotha I have the same double stack flow hood but it doesn't blow that hard i wondering if the filter is clogged or something the fan looks like a turbine if you have any info that would be awesome thank you
yes I had to modify the intake in the back by caulking and adding some foam so it had better suction I totally forgot I did that years ago ha
@FreshfromtheFarmFungi ok I'll have to see if I can fix this problem
Sometimes before use, when cleaning hood surfaces, I spray the filter lightly with the alcohol. Is that bad? Why?
it should be ok. Alcohol is a disinfectant so it should not promote microbial activity and evaporates quickly. I mostly was talking about accidental spills in the video - this can cause issues if it’s not addressed immediately- it can clog the filter, which in turn can promote microbes to survive the desiccation and worst case start entering the clean system.
Thank you Gary! You're an inspiration to me in Virginia!
An air compressor produces a ton of water. Air brushes have a water trap built into the air line because water causes obvious problems when mixed with paint. A regular air compressor doesn't have said water trap.
yes this one has a bleed out valve so when you’re finished, you can let all the air out and towards the end sometimes there is a few droplets- nothing that would cause any damage
You leave your hood on all the time?
yes
Thanks Gary. I sometimes worried about leaving it on for only 24 hours when I wanted to maintain surface sterility on sub bags, plates, jars, etc in the interim til I can find time to innoculate. Thought I'd be using up the expensive $900 filter too fast. But at 5 years of continuous use, and me not running continuously but only for 24 hours or 36 hours at a time, then I could get 10 or more years out of it, which is cost manageable for sure.
❤❤
Don't use an air compressors on filters! You'll blow holes through them and it will let larger particles through.
this is not true. It is low pressure - if this was the case the filters would fall apart from the giant fan behind it on the other side.